Operating table



Nov. 27, 1923.

- l. C(JNRAE? OPERATING TABLE Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [sh/z Konrad 'IIIIIIA Elm mu,

Nov. 27 {1923.

I. CONRAD OPERATING TABLE Filed Jan. 5, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1. CONRAD OPERATING TABLE Nov. 27., 1923.

Filed Jan. 5, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES ISIAH CONRAD, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

OPERATING TABLE.

Application filed January 3, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ISIAH CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Tables,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in surgical tables, and has for its primary obj ect the provision of a table wherein positive and effectual controls are provided for the purpose of enabling the table to be adjusted.

upon a universal mountingto assume and be retained in any desired position of adjustment.

In accordance with the invention, an operating table is provided includinga wheeled or portable base unit having positioned thereover the table bed, and in providing a universal joint movement between the under part of said bed and the upper part of said base unit for the purpose of enabling the bed to be swung and maintained in any desired position of adjustment relative to the base unit, improved locking devices being provided for retaining the bed locked against movement when in any of its various positions of adjustment. 7

Another object of the invention resides in forming the upper part of the base unit to include a substantially circular block positioned to oscillate upon a fixed horizontal axis carried by the base unit, and 'in providing the under part of the table bed with the rigidly depending cylindrical housing capable of being positioned upon said block and to rotate axially thereabout, a manually controlled locking means being provided for retaining the housing in any position of rotatable adjustment about said block, and a worm gear mechanism being provided for retaining said block and parts associated therewith in fixed positions of adjustment about the said horizontal axis, the compound movement thus provided enabling the table bedto be swung and rigidly retained in any desired position of adjustment best adapted for surgical purposes.

A further object of the invention rests in forming the base unit with a vertically movable frame and with independently mounted transportation wheels or casters, whereby the frame may be lowered to elevate the casters above the floor surface when the table is strictly employed for surgical par poses in order that a secure foundation for Serial No. 526,484.

the table will be provided, and yet to permit of the elevation of said frame to permit the weight of the table to be transferred to the casters when the table is to be moved from place to place.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the operating table comprising the present invention.

Figure 2 is a topplan view of the table, the supporting plates of the bed of the table being removed to disclose the underlying structure.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the table on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 14@ of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 1.

' Figure 7 is a plan view of the structure disclosed in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the adjustable head rest connection.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view through the base unit on the line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11. is a detail vertical sectional view through one of the racks employed for vertically oscillating the table bed.

Figure 12 is a sectional View on the line 12-12 of Figure 11, and

Figure 13 is a detail section on line 13-13 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the details of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the operating or surgical table comprising, the preferred form of the present invention.

Essentially, the table consists of a portable base unit 2, a superposed adjustable table bed 3 and a universal mounting 1 between the under part of the bed 8 and the upper part of the base unit 2, the mounting etserving to admit of any desired relative adjustment on the part of the said bed with respect to the base unit.

1n the specific form of the invention disclosed, the base unit 2 consists of a main frame 5 including a substantially rectangular portion 6 having depending tubular extensions 7 at the four corners thereof, which extensions are adapted to receive for swiveled movement the upper stud ends 6 of caster brackets 9, rubber tired caster wheels 10 being rotatably carried by the brackets 9 in the usual manner. Through the medium of the wheels 10, the base unit maybe readily shifted from place to place, as desired.

However when the table is in active use,

the base unit is rendered substantial and relatively immovable through the agency of a supplemental base frame 11, which is formed to employ a substantially cross shaped frame composed, in this instance, of metal tubing and formed to include rigid upwardly extending rods 12, slidably received within sleeves 13 rigidly carried by the frame 5. The rods 12 extend above the rectangular portion 6 of the-frame 5. ant are united by transversely extending bars 1 1, whose intermediate portions are equipped with fixed depending racks 15. These racks are movably positioned within casings 16 rigidly mounted in conjunction with longitudinally extending bars 17 carried by the frame 5. An operating shaft 18 is journaled in connection with the casing 16 and carries worm gears 19 disposed for engagement with similar gears 20, with which are rotatably connected spur gears 21, adapted for engagement with the teeth of the racks 15. In this instance, the outer end of the shaft 18 is provided with an operating wheel 22, having offset pedals 23 capable of being engaged by the foot of the operator for the purpose of rotating the shaft 18. it will be seen that by lowering the base frame 11, the weight of the table will be transferred from the caster wheels to the said base frame and owing to the flat cross shaped configuration of the latter, a firm foundation will be pro vided for supporting the bed of the table, which foundation will prevent undue tilting or rocking movement on the part of the table and provides a steady, substantial and se cure construction which can not be unduly moved. l Vhen it is desired to shift the table from place to place, the supplemental frame is elevated, thereby shifting the weight to the casters 10 which permit of the conven ient transportation of the table as a whole.

Arising from said rails of the frame 6 are upstanding, rigidly positioned substantially U shaped supports 24, which are transversely spaced a distance equaling the tilting by rotating the table about the width of the frame 6, and if desired the lower ends of the supports 2a may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the sides of the frame 6; Mounted upon the tops of the supports 24 are stationary brackets 25 which receive the ends of a rotatable horizontally extending shaft 26, the latter constituting an axis about which the bed 2 may swing in a substantially vertical plane. Fixed upon the shaft 26 is a bearing block 27, which in this instance, is in the form of a hollowmetallic casting and includes: a circular upwardly extending structure 28, the sides of which being formed to include longitudinal bearings 29 adapted for the reception of a shaft 26, and set screws or the like 30 may be formed with the bearings 29 for engage ment with the shaft 26 in order that the said shaft and the block 27 may oscillate unitarily. The lower part of the block 27 may be closed by means of a removable plate 31.

The table 1 includes a supporting frame 32 wherein is formed longitudinally extending side rails- 33, transversely extending end r ils 341-, and a plurality of intermediate rails 35, in this instance, the said rails 33, 34c and 35 are of integral formation to render the frame light in weight, yet rigid and substantial. This frame is of skeleton form as is clearly shown in Figure 2, and is adapted to be covered by means of a removable sheet metal plate 36 capable of receiving and sup porting the body.

The intermediate rails 35 include a fixed depending circular housing 37, which is rotatably positioned upon and adapted to rotate axially about the circular upper structure 28 of the bearing block 27. It will be seen that by this construction, the shaft 26 will permit of adjustment on the part of the bed 3 in substantially vertical planes and that the positioning of the housing 37 around the block 27 will admit of adjustment of the bed 3 in substantially horizontal planes. Also, it will be apparent that by the block 27 to various angular positions with respect to the vertical and I block 27, the bed 3 will be caused to assume any desired position of inclination best adapted to the requirements of a surgeon. By this construction, any approved operating position of the bed 3 may be secured.

To retain the housing 37 and the block 27 in various set positions of relative adjustment, the said housing is formed to include a vertically eXtending bearing 38, located on the outer side of the housing and situated immediately over an integral collar or flange 39 carried by the block 27. T o the upper part of the housing 37 there is pivotally connected as at 40, one end of a locking lever 41, to the intermediate portion of which is pivotally secured as at 42 the upper end of a locking pin 43, which is slidably ences in mounted in the bearing 38. Manifestly, by

this construction, the pin 43 may be selectively positioned in any one of the openings 44 provided at circularly spaced intervals in the collar 39, and that when positioned in engagement with any one of such openings, relative rotation between the housing 37 and the block 27' will be precluded. To operate the lever 41, there is provided in conjunction with the frame 32, a longitudinally extending shaft 45, which has one end equipped with a laterally extending handle 46, and the other end with a cam 47 normally disposed for engagement with the outer end of the lever 41, a spring 48 being interposed between the plate 36 of the frame 32 and the top of the lever 41 for the purpose of maintaining the free actuating end of the lever in engagement with the cam 47. Also, the shaft 45 is provided with a coil spring 49, which tends to return the shaft 45 after being rotated, to a normal position. It is obvious that by oscillating the handle 46, the cam 47 may be rotated so as to lift the lever 41 and consequently the pin 43, enabling the latter tobe withdrawn from any one of the openings 44 provided in the collar 39, and while the handle 46 and the pin 43 are in elevated positions, horizontal rotation on the part of the bed 3 may be readily effected. However, upon release of the handle 46, the action of the springs 48 and 49 will serve to return the pin 43 to a locking position, and will arrest undue movement on the part of the table 1.

To vertically oscillate the bed 3, I provide the block 27 with laterally extending yoked or forked arms 50, which diverge outwardly and have their extreme outer ends pivotally connected as at 51, with depending trans-' versely spaced rack bars 52. These bars are each provided on one side with rack teeth 53 which are engaged with spur toothed pinions 54 fixed to rotate about shafts carried by trunnioned casings 56. This construction is disclosed particularly in Figures 11 and 12, wherein. it will be noted that the side bars of the frame 6 are equipped with upstanding brackets 57, having their upper ends formed with openings 58 in which are rotatably positioned laterally extending studs 59 formed with the casings 56. By this construction, it will be observed that the casings 56 will be permitted to swing about the studs 59, and consequently since the bars 52 pass directly through openings 60 formed in said casings and are guided by the latter, the casings will be permited to oscillate for the purpose ofcompensating for the differposition due to the oscillation of the arms 50 and the sliding movement of the bars 52. It will be seen that by the rotation of the pinions 54, longitudinal sliding movement will be imparted to the bars 52 causing the elevation or lowering on the part of the latter, and since the upper ends of said bars are pivotally connected with the outer ends of the arms 50, it follows that the table bed 3 will be'vertically oscillated.

To rotate the pinions 54, the latter in this instance are integrally formed with worm gears 61 also rotatable about the shafts 55, and the said worm gears are engaged by similar gears 62, fixed upon a transversely extending operating shaft 63, which extends through both of the casings 56 and is rotatably journaled in connection therewith. The outer end of the shaft 63 is equipped with a hand wheel 64 which upon being manually rotated will revolve the shaft 63 and the worm 62 carried thereby. By this construction, rotation will be imparted to the pinions 54, causing sliding movement on the part of the bars 52 and corresponding oscillation of the block 27 and structure carried thereby. It will be observed particularly that by the provision of the worm gearing and the spring pressed pin 43, the tablebed will be locked in any of its positions of adjustment, and this operation will be automatically accomplished without requiring special attention on the part of the operator. 7

The table bed is in itself formed to include an adjustable head rest 65, which consists of a frame including longitudinally ex tending spaced side bars 66, which have their forward ends pivotally mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 67 carried by fixed ears 68 projecting from the head end of the frame 32. The side bars 66 are longitudinally movable upon the shaft 67 between the ears 68, as clearly shown in Figure 2, andthe spring 69 is fixed to the shaft 67 and engages at its opposite end with one of the side bars 66, forcing the head rest bodily toward one of the cars 68. This car is formed with a stud 70 which is capable of being engaged in any one of a plurality ot openings 71 arranged circularly in the forward end of one of the bars 66 and concentrically with respect to the shaft 67. The

degree of inclination of the head rest may a be readily adjusted by sliding the said head rest upon the shaft 67 until the stud 70 is out of engagement with anyone of the openings 71. Then by rotating the head rest, its inclination may be governed, and finally located in its desired position by being rel ased, permitting the spring 69 to force the head rest laterally into engagement with the stud 70.

l lxtending longitudinally of the frame 32 on the outer side of the rails 33 and slightly spaced therefrom are similar longitudinally extending rails 72 which carry longitudinally movable l'irachets 73 capable of being retained in adjusted positions by means of set screws 7 4; The brackets 73 include inwardly extending arms upon which are adjustably mounted shoulder cleats 7 6 which assist in maintaining a body in asecure posit-ion upon the bed 3. Also, adjacent to the cleats 76, the frame 32 may be provided with a semi-circular rod 7?, by means of which a cloth or canopy may be placed over the head. of a patient and employed in the giving of an anesthetic. The rails 72 are also provided with adjustable side brackets 78, which may be moved to any desired longitudinal position upon the rails 72, and cooperate with the table bed 3 for maintaining a patient in proper position thereon. An adjustable back rest 79 is provided in conjunction with the bed 3 and consists of a transversely extending convexed plate 80 with which is connected a pair of rigidly depending rods 81, passing guides 82 carried by the intermediaterails 35. This back rest is raised and lowered by the provision of rocker arms 83, carried upon a tran versely journaled rock shaft 84. The ele vation of the back rest with respect to the bed 3 is governed by providing the rock shaft 84 with a worm gear a similz 1' gear 86 carried upon a shortlongitudinally extending shaft section 87. One end of the shaft 87 is connected with a knuckle joint 88, from which extends an obliquely disposed shaft 89, journaled in connection with the frame 32 and having its outer end eqipped with an operating wheel 90. By rotating the wheel 99, it iollows that the back rest may be raised and lowered, and that by the medium of the worm gearing and 86, the said rest will be maintained in any of its adjusted positions.

A foot frame 91 is hinged as at 92 to the foot end of the frame 32, and being raised and lowered relatively thereto. T 0 permit of this adjustment, the frame 32 is provided with depending brackets 93, which carry a rock sh aft 94. having rollered rock arms 95 formed therewith, the free ends of said arms being disposed for engagement with the under part of the frame91. The shaft 94 is provided with a worm segment meshing with a worm gear 96, carried upon one end of a longitudinally extending shaft 97, journaled in connection with the frame 32. The rear end of the shaft 97 is connected with an obliquely extending operating shaft 98, and a knuckle joint 99 is employed to unite said shafts for rotary moven'ient. By rotating the shaft 98, it follows that con trolled motion will be imparted to the rock shaft 94f, thereby governing the posit-ions of the foot frame 91, the worm gearing serving to maintain said frame locked against undue movement. Pivoted arms 100 are carried by the frame32 and include adjustable heel brackets 101. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the back rest 79 has its plate with longitudinally extending bayonet slots also the foot frame 91 may be provided 85, meshing with is capable of 80 provided 1052, which receive headed pins 103 depend ing from adjustable side cleats 10%. These cleats may be quickly adjusted longitudinally of the back rest for engagement with the sides of a patient reclining thereon and with a similar longitudinally movable foot rest 105.

In view of the foregoing description.

when taken in conjunction with the accom panying drawings, it will be seen that the present invention provides an operating table of relatively simple, substantial and efficient construction, wherein a plurality of controls are present for adapting the table to the requirements of each particular operation and to the patient disposed thereon. Moreover, the contr ls are so constructed as to be capable of being positively locked in any given position of adjustment. iVhile l have set forth manually operated controls for governing the operation of the universal mounting 4, it will be apparent that motion may be imparted to the various members comprising the mounting from any suit able means, such for example as electric motors. I therefore do not desire the above specific disclosure of the invention to be construed as limiting the invention to the features described specifically therein, but contemplate the employment of all such modifications of the invention as may be said to fairly fall within the scope and intent of the following claims.

WVha-t is claimed is:

1. An operating table comprising a base, a table member and a mounting between said base and table member permitting of adjustment of the table member with respect to said base, said mounting including a lower section secured by means of a horizontally extending shaft to said base, an upper section for said mounting comprising a collar fixed to said table and rotatable about said lower section on an axis disposed substantially at right angles to the horizontal pivotal mounting for said lower sec tion, a manually operated lock for retaining said sections, in their various positions of rotative adjustment, and a pair of pivoted arms connected with said lower section and with said base and operated to maintain the said mounting in its various positions of adjustment with respect to its horizontal shaft.

2. An operating table comprising a base, a pair of spaced vertically extending supports arising from said base, a shaft carried by the upper portions of said supports and extending horizontally across said base, a mounting journaled for rotation about the horizontal axis of said shaft and capable of swinging in a vertical plane, pivotally connected links associated with said mounting for retaining the latter in its various posit ll so horizontally tions of vertical adjustment, a table member adjustable with respect to said base, a fixed extension carried by the under portion of said table member and connected with said mounting for axial rotation with respect thereto, and a manually operated lock for retaining said extension and table member in various positions of axial adjustment with regard to said mounting.

3. An operating table comprising base, a table member adjustable with respect to said base, and a pivotally movable mounting for uniting said table member to said base, a horizontally disposed shaft uniting said mounting to said base, whereby the said mounting may swing bodily in a .vertical plane, a collar rigidly formed with the under portion of said table member and rotatable axially about said mounting, and a spring pressed manually operated member movable with said collar and capable of locking the latter in any of its various positions of relative adjustment with respect to said mounting.

4. An operating table comprising a base, a table member adjustable with respect to said base, and a pivotal connection between said table member and said base, said connection comprising a mounting section, a extending shaft connecting said section with said base and permitting the section to swing on a substantially vertical plane, a collar depending rigidly from the under side of said table member and connected with said section for axial rotation relative thereto, a flange provided upon said sectionand formed to include a plurality of openings, and a manually operated lock rotatable with said collar and capable of being selectively engaged with said flange openings to lock said collar and section in any of their positions of relative adjustment.

5. An operating table comprising a base, a table member and a compound pivotal connection between said table member and said base, said connection comprising a main mounting section rotatably carried by said base on a fixed horizontally extending axis, a collar rigidly depending from the under side of said table member and rotatably r ceived about the said mounting section, a fixed flange projecting annularly from said section and provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged openings and a manually controlled lock rotatable with said collar and capable of being selectively engaged with said openings.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ISIAH CONRAD. 

